Marine Law Enforcement

The Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation is the lead agency in New York for the coordination of marine law
enforcement efforts. Through the Bureau of Marine Services, Parks oversees the distribution of registration funds to qualifying
counties and municipalities. The Bureau also conduct training seminars for law enforcement officers from the state, county and local
levels.

Marine Law Enforcement Agencies

In general, if you have a question or complaint related to boating laws and regulations, you should contact your local Sheriff's
Department. For a complete listing of law enforcement agencies across the state, visit the
Division of Criminal Justice Services.

State Aid

A portion of the money collected from vessel registration fees are provided for distribution to localities which operate marine
patrols. While this money, which may reach as much as $3 million per year, goes primarily to the county sheriffs and police
departments, some of it is also given to towns and villages. A participating agency may receive aid equal to 50% of their total
operating, capital, and personnel expenses, refunded up to a maximum of $200,000.

Training

The Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation sponsors several training programs each year. They are open, in
general, to police officers and peace officer from any agency throughout the state. Aside from the staff of the Bureau of Marine
Services, marine law enforcement officers are loaned to OPRHP from throughout the state to accomplish these training missions.

Marine Law Enforcement Course

The Marine Law Enforcement Course provides the basics of the navigation law to the new officer, as well as offering an
opportunity to conduct vessel boardings. This program usually runs in early May. It is a full, intensive, forty-hour program, and is
limited to fifty students. Applicants must be police officers or peace officers.

Marine Patrol Vessel Operators Course

The Marine Patrol Vessel Operators Course (MPVOC) is an advanced program for the officer who has completed the Marine Law
Enforcement Course, and wishes to develop his skills as a boat handler. The course is an intensive program of "hands on" boat
handling and seamanship. The MPVOC is held in conjunction with the Marine Law Enforcement course, in early May. Class size is
limited to twenty students, and applicants must be either police officers or peace officers.

Impaired Boaters Recognition Program

This course is similar to the Impaired Drivers Recognition Program designed to help police officers detect drunken drivers on
our roadways. After classroom instruction, the students get on opportunity to test their skills on volunteers who, in a controlled
atmosphere, have been drinking. The standardized field sobriety tests are taught - the one-legged stand and the walk-and-turn -
as well as tests designed specifically for use aboard a boat. Officers also learn to test a subject for Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus.
Taught once a year, usually in February or March, this program is limited to twenty students, and runs a full forty hours.

Personal Watercraft Operator Training

This course is operation intensive, focused primarily on raising the trainee's operating skill. This course also covers, in detail,
the Navigation Law as it applies to personal watercraft. Generally taught once a year, this program is limited to twenty students,
and runs a full twenty hours. The training is conducted at Cayuga Lake State Park in Seneca Falls.

Vessel Noise Enforcement Training

Under the New York State Navigation Law, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is designated as the
certifying authority for officers wishing to enforce Section 44, "Noise levels on pleasure vessels". This program can be completed
in one day, and is usually taught upon request to any agency wishing to serve as host. The training includes both classroom
instruction and field testing of vessels provided by the host. The officer must show competence in performing these tests to receive
certification.